Power-driven sled.



D. PINKEL.

POWER DRIVEN SLED.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-21, 1914.

- Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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POWER DRIVEN SEED.

APPLICATION FILED No v.27, 1914.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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D. PINKEL.

POWER DRIVEN SLED.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.27.1914.

1,158,49? Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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POWER DRIVEN SLED. APPLICATION FILED NOV-27. I914.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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DANIEL PINKEL, 0F RICHMOND, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNGR T0 DAVID GEARL, OFRICHMOND, MICHIGAN.

POWER-DRIVEN SLED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lPatentedUct. 2c, 191-5.

Application filed November 27, 1914. Serial No. 874,328.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL PINKEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of Macomb and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power- DrivenSleds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in power driven sleds.

Important objects of the invention are to provide novel and efficientspring means for securing the frame or chassis, with the runners, forforming a strong connection which is highly shock absorbing; to providevertically movable self-compensating means for connecting the spurwheels or gears with the frame or chassis, whereby the same is adaptedto travel over irregularities in the road bed; to provide a sled of theabove mentioned character which may be as con veniently steered andoperated as an ordinary automobile; to provide a sled of the abovementioned character formed of parts which are readily separable for thepurpose of repair or cleaning; to provide a sled of the above mentionedcharacter which is comparatively simple in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture, strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the acompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthesame, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a power driven sled embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the rearrunners, showing the attaching means therefor, Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe sled with parts removed for the sake of illustration, Fig. 4c is aside elevation of one of the forward runners removed, Fig. 5 is atransverse sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3, Fig. 6 is asimilar viewtaken on line 6 of Fig. 3, Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentaryside elevation of the vertical swinging means for securing the drivingspur gears to the frame of the sled, Fig. 8 is a side elevation of onespur gear removed, Fig. 9 is a sectional View takenon line 9--9 of Fig.8, and Fig. 10 is a side elevation, parts being shown of illustration isshown 'a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designatesa frame or chassis, embodying longitudinal side beams 11, connected attheir ends by transverse bars or rods 11 and 12, as more clearly shownin Fig. 3. Arranged upon the forward portion of the frame 10 is a hood18, within which is an explosion engine of any well known or preferredtype, (not shown). This explosion engine, through the medium of afriction clutch (not shown) transmits rotation to a shaft 14:, whichdrives abevel gear 15, for a purpose to be described. Disposed at therear end of the hood 13 is a dash-board 16. The numeral 17 designates aseat or seats, arranged rearwardly of the dash-board 16. The numeral 18designates a steering wheel, secured to a steering rod 19, to bedescribed. The en glue is operated in a well known manner and no furtherdescription thereof will be given.

The numeral 20 designates the rear run= ners, preferably of the shapeshown. Secured to the upper sides of each rear runner 20 near and spacedfrom the rear end thereof, is an inverted approximately U-shaped bracket21, attached thereto by means of screws or bolts 22, as shown.

Arranged within each of the brackets 21 is a securing plate 23, attachedto the runner by screws or bolts 24. The opposite ends of the securingplate 23 are apertured, for receiving vertical connecting bolts 25,provided at their lower ends with heads 26, disposed below the securingplate and arranged within recesses 27 formed upon the upper sides of therunner 20. These connecting bolts pass through openings 28 beingscrew-threaded for receiving nuts 32,

as shown. The frame brackets 31 are arthe frame or chassis l and areyieldingly @connected therewith taking up vertical shocks which wouldotherwise be transmitted from the road to the frame.

The numeral 34 designates front runners, preferably of the shape shown.As more clearly shown in Fig. 4, each front runner has .an invertedapproximately U shaped bracket 35, arranged upon the upper side thereof,near andspaced from the rear end thereof, such bracket being securedthereto by means of screws or bolts 36, as shown.

Arranged within each bracket 35 is a securing plate 37, attached to therunner by screws or bolts 38. Each securing plate 37 is providedcentrally thereof with an opening 39, to receive a vertical pivotalconnecting bolt 40. This bolt is provided at its lower end with a head41, arranged below and adjacent the securing plate 37 and fit tingwithin a recess 42 formed upon the upper surface of the runner.Surrounding the intermediate portion of each pivotal connecting bolt'40is a suitably stiff compressible coil spring 43, engaging an aperturedframe bracket 44, pivotally mounted upon the bolt 40. The upper end ofthe bolt 40 is screw-threaded for receiving a nut 45. The bracket 44 issecured to the longitudinal side beam 11 by a bolt 46 or the like.

Rigidly connected with the upper end of each bracket 35 is a steeringcrank or fork 47 ,secured thereto by bolts 48 or the like. The crank 47and bracket 35 are apertured for receiving the bolt 40. The rear ends ofi the steering cranks or forks47 are pivotally connected with. adrag-link 49. Pivotally connected with this drag-link, as shown at 50,is a steering link 51, having pivotal connection with a depending crank52, as best shown in Fig. 5. The depending crank is rigidly secured tothe forward end of the steering shaft 19, to be turned therewith. lt-isobvious that by proper manipulation of the steering wheel 18 that theslide may be steered in the desired direction.

Thedrive shaft 14 hasits rear end journaled through a stationary bearing53, rigidly secured to a transverse strip or bar 54, in turn bolted orotherwise rigidly attachedto the longitudinal side beams 11, as shown.The drive shaft -14 is connected with the bevel gear 15, as abovestated, by

aself-compensating longitudinally extensible and contractible coupling54 one mem- V 1 her of which has a universal connection with the rearend of the drive shaft 14, as shown at 55. The bevel gear 15 engages abevel gear 56, rigidly secured upon a transverse driving shaft 57, asshown. The bevel gear 56 is arranged within a gear housing 58, includingtubular end portions 59 and 60, which receive respectively thetransverse driving shaft 57 and a portion of the coupling 54, as shown.

The numeral (31 designates vertically swinging securing arms, each ofwhich, as clearly shown in Fig. 9, has its rear end provided with anannular groove 62. A two part T-coupling (53 is carried by the rear endof each vertically swinging securing arm, and is provided with aninwardly extending annular flange 64, fitting within the annular groove62. The two parts of this T-coupling are secured together by means ofbolts 55, as shown. Each T-eoupling (33 is provided with a transverseopening (36, receiving the end portions of the transverse driving shaft57 and holding the gear casing 58 against perceptible longitudinalmovement. The forward end of each vertically securing arm 61 extendsinto an opening 67, formed in a sleeve 68 of a head (59, and is heldtherein by a transverse pin or bolt 70, as is best shown in Fig. 10. Thehead (39 is provided adjacent the forward end of the vertically swingingsecuring arm 61 with a horizontal opening 71, receiving a horizontalpivot pin 72, as shown. This pivot pin passes through spaced verticalears or knuckles 73 included in a bracket 74, rigidly secured to thetransverse bar or strip 54, as shown. As more clearly shown in Fig. 7,the transverse strip or bar is provided near each end thereof with ahorizontal transverse opening 75, receiving a bolt 7 6, provided at itsforward end with a forked head or end 77 and having its rear endscrew-threaded to receive a nut 78. Arranged below the strip or bar 54is a reinforcing plate 79, serving to strengthen the bar 54 and has awasher for the bolts which secure the brackets 74 upon the transversestrip or bar 54. The forked end 77 receives the apertured head 80 of avertically swinging bolt 81 pivoted therein by a transverse pin or bolt82. This vertically swinging bolt passes through, as clearly shown inFig. 7, a suitably large aperture formed through the forward end of thehead 69, as shown. Surrounding the vertically swinging bolt 81 above andbelow the head 69 are suitably stiff compressible and expansible coilsprings 82 and 83, the inner ends of which engage said head. The outeror lower end of the spring 82 engages the head 80 while the outer orupper end of the spring 83 engages a nut 85 carried by the verticallyswinging bolt 81. From the foregoing description it is obvious that thesecuring arms (51 are capable of being swung up and down, in oppositionto the coil springs 82 and 83, which yieldingly oppose the movementthereof returning them to the normal position.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 8, a driving spur wheel 86 is rigidlysecured to each end of the transverse driving shaft 57. The spur wheelis provided centrally thereof with a main opening 87 to receive thedriving shaft and has a laterally extending opening 88, receiving a key89 formed upon the outer end of the driving shaft. Any suitable meansmay be employed to prevent the improper longitudinal movement of thedriving wheel upon the driving shaft As more clearly shown in Figs. 8and 9, each driving spur wheel is provided upon its periphery with aplurality of radially extending openings 90, which lead into an annulargroove or recess 91, preferably formed upon the outer face of the wheel.Spurs 92 are provided, which are tapered toward their outer ends, asshown. These spurs carry inwardly extending apertured shanks 93, adaptedto fit within the openings 90, the wheel 86 being provided withapertures 9% in registration with the apertures in the snanlzs 93.Holding pins 95 pass through the apertures 94: and the apertures in theshanks 90, to lock the spurs 92 to the wheel.

The numeral 96 designates brake mechanism, of any well known orpreferred type, connected with and operated by inwardly extending cables97 secured to the upstanding cranks 98, in turn rigidly mounted upon atransverse rockshaft 99. A spring 100 is connected with one of theseeranksto hold the rock-shaft from turning rearwardly and a brake pedal101 is secured to the rockshaft, to be depressed by the operator when hedesires to apply the brakes.

in operation, the rotation of the drive shaft 11 is transmitted to bevelgear 15, bevel gear 56, and transverse driving shaft 57, which in turnrotates the driving spur gears. These driving spur gears rotating inengagement with the ice and snow propel the sled. It not infrequentlyhappens that the sled is driven over a road bed having irregularitiestherein. My construction is particularly well adapted to take care ofthese irregularities, the driving spur gears being capable ofautomatically rising and falling, due to the manner in which they arepivotally and yieldingly connected with the frame. The steering of thesled is accomplished by turning the hand wheel 18 in the desireddirection. It is thought that no further description of the invention isnecessary for a clear understanding of the same.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts mayprovided with approximately vertical aper-v tures, means pivotallyconnecting the securing arms with the brackets at points disposed nearand spaced from the forward ends of the securing arms, substantiallyhorizontal bolts arranged within the transverse openings of said bar,vertically swinging bolts pivoted to the forward ends of thesubstantially horizontal bolts and arranged within the apertures of thesecuring arms,

compressible coil springs surrounding the vertically swinging bolts andengaging the apertured ends of the securing arms to oppose theirmovement in opposite directions, a rotatable transverse shaft carried bythe rear ends of the securing arms, a spur gear carried by thetransverse shaft, and means to rotate the transverse shaft.

2. In a sledof the character described, a frame embodying a transversebar, runners supporting the frame, brackets rigidly mounted upon thetransverse bar with the bar having transverse openings beneath andadjacent the brackets, vertically swinging heads pivotally mounted uponthe brackets with their rear ends provided with axially extendingopenings and their forward ends having approximately vertical apertures,substantially horizontal bolts arranged within the transverse openingsof said bar and having forward forked heads, vertically swinging boltspivotally mounted in the forward forked heads of the substantiallyhorizontal bolts and extending into the apertures of the heads,compressible coil springs surrounding the vertically swinging bolts andengaging the apertured ends of the heads to oppose their movement inopposite directions, securing arms having their forward ends extendinginto the axial openings of the heads, a spur gear pivotally connectedwith the rear ends of the securing arms, and means to drive the spurgear.

3. In a sled, a frame, runners supporting the same, securing armsprovided near their rear ends with annular grooves, a rotatabletransverse shaft, two-part T-bearings receiving the transverse shaft andthe rear ends of the securing arms and provided with interior annularflanges to enter the annular grooves, means to rotate the transverseshaft, spur gears carried by the transverse shaft, means to pivotallyconnect the securto reciprocate upon the connecting bolt, and

a suitably stiff coil spring surrounding the bolt between the frame andrunner brackets.

5. In a sled, a frame, a runner arranged below the frame, an invertedapproximately U-shaped bracket arranged upon and rigidly secured to theupper side of the runner, a substantially vertical connecting bolthaving its lower end engaging the runner and passing through theaperture of the bracket,

an apertured securing plate receiving the connecting bolt and arrangedwithin the bracket and attached to the runner, an apertured bracketsecured to the frame and mounted to reciprocate upon the connectingbolt, and a coil spring surrounding the conneeting bolt between thebrackets.

6. In a sled, a frame, a runner arranged below the frame, anapproximately U-shaped bracket rigidly secured to the runner andprovided with an aperture, a connecting bolt passing through theaperture of the bracket, an apertured securing plate to receive the boltand attached to the runner, a bracket secured to the frame and looselymounted upon the bolt, an apertured crank receiving the bolt and rigidlyattached to the approximately U-shaped bracket, a spring surrounding thebolt between the crank and the frame bracket, and means to swing thecrank.

7. A spur wheel for a power driven sled provided upon its periphery withradially extending openings and upon one face with an annular groovecommunicating with the radially extending openings, and spurs to bemounted upon the periphery of the wheel and carrying shanks adapted tobe inserted through the radially extending opening and project into theannular groove.

8. A spur wheel for a power driven sled provided upon its periphery withradially extending openings and upon one face with an annular groovecommunicating with the inner ends of the openings and transverseapertures leading into the openings, and spurs having apertured shanksto be passed through the radially extending openings and project intothe annular groove with their apertures in registration with thetransverse apertures, and pins passed through the registering aperturesto retain the shanks against displacement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL PINKEL.

Witnesses:

ALroRD C. FILLMORE, DAVID CARL.

'Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

